Posted July 14, 2003.

Springfield, Mass., Takes Library Reins from Private Association

After 146 years of library management in Springfield, Massachusetts, by the private Springfield Library and Museums Association, the city council voted unanimously June 30 to take direct control of the system’s operations. The action was the culmination of a controversy that began in February when the SLMA board, citing a $200,000 cut in FY 2002 state aid and decreased revenue from other sources, abruptly shuttered three of the system’s nine branches and reduced services at four others to one day per week.

“This is a historic day,” Mayor Michael J. Albano said July 3 as he signed the ordinance creating a five-member library advisory board to oversee the new city department. Officials have expressed confidence that the new library administration will find the means to reopen branches in September, albeit with reduced funding. Although a library study committee had recommended a budget of $5.2 million for FY 2003, council members appropriated $4 million and promised to consider adding another $500,000 if the city receives enough state aid this fiscal year. Ironically, should the half-million not materialize, the library could forfeit an additional $900,000 because Massachusetts libraries are required to be funded at a certain level by the local governing authority before becoming eligible for state aid. 

Posted July 14, 2003.